Coil handling apparatus



Nov. 20, 1945. E. L. LYLE COIL HANDLINGk APPARATUS 3 Sheets-SheerI 1 Filed Feb. 6, 1943 Nov. 20, 1945. E. L. LYLE COIL HANDLING APPARATUS s sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 6. 1945 INVENTOR. Edward L.Lyl e ATTORNEY 5 Sheets-Sheet I5 INVENTOR. Edward L. Lyle m m T A E. L. LYLE COIL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 5, 1945 Patented Nov. 20, 1945 2,389,443 COIL HANDLING APPARATUS Edward Application February 6,

8 Claims.

This invention relates, in general, to coil handling apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for charging or delivering coiled strip metal into and rotatably supporting the same in unwinding position for uncoiling.

Metal strip stock to be subjected to shearing, rolling, and many other operations vided in coiled form, and it is unwound from the coil for its delivery to the processing equipment. In accordance with theV present invention, the coils are loaded upon a delivery conveyor and advanced thereby to a cooperating reel or unwinding device which is operable to lift the foremost coil from the conveyor and rotatably support the same for uncoiling. In various types of reels heretofore employed for supporting coiled strip metal for unwinding, much delay in the operation of the principal processing equipment has occurred by reason of the time consumed and the labor involved in loading the reel and positioning successive coils in unwinding position.

This invention has for an object, therefore, to provide a simplified and improved apparatus of the character above described wherein successive coils can be brought into unwinding position for uncoiling with great rapidity and without damage to the coils or scratching of the metal surfaces thereof, and wherein the uncoiling operation is actually begun while the coil is being brought into unwinding position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coil unwinding device having rectilinearly and oscillatably movable coil engaging members for lifting a coil and rotatably supporting it in un- -winding position together with means for automatically controlling the extent of the rectilinear and oscillatable movements of the coil engaging members in order to effect rapid handling of coils of various weights and sizes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a coil handling apparatus incorporating a cooperating coil conveyor and a coil engaging device so arranged and operable that coil handling time and labor to bring successive coils into unwinding or uncoiling position are reduced to a minimum.

A still further object is to provide apparatus including a conveyor having means for rotatably supporting coils in predetermined spaced relation thereon. and a coil lifting device located at the front end of the conveyor for removing the foremost coil and rotatably supporting the same in unwinding position and means located at the rear end of the conveyor be pulled out on each coil loaded on the conveyor during'a coil unwinding operation.

for enabling a tail to y L. Lyle, Maryville, Tenn., Aluminum Company of America, Pa., a corporation of P assignor to Pittsburgh,

ennsylvania 1943, Serial No. 474,901`

is usually pro- A further purpose of the invention is to provide coil handling apparatus designed to afford entry of a preformed tail on a coil into a strip receiving device while the coil is being brought into uncoiling position in front of such device.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become clear to the persons skilled in this art from a reading of the detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the apparatus of this invention illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof and showing the apparatus in association with a shearing mechanism, the conveyor drive being omitted;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side view of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a view taken on the line VI--VI Aof Fig. 5. I

Referring to the drawings, a conveyor is provided which comprises parallel endless chains I trained around a pair of sprockets 2 at the coil receiving or loading end of the conveyor, and around a pair of sprockets 3 at the coil unloading or front end of the conveyor. A shaft 4 carries the sprockets 2 while a driven shaft 5 carries the sprockets 3. The shafts 4 and 5 are suitably journalled in bearings carried by the conveyor frame 6, the bearings for shaft 4 being incorporated in adjusting devices, by adjustment of which the chains may be kept taut. The shaft 5 also carries a sprocket 1 (Fig, 3).

Coil supports are mounted upon the parallel chains in predetermined spaced relation, each support comprising a pair of transverse bars 8 secured to the links of the chains and coil supporting or cradling rollers 9 secured to the upper sides of the bars. The spacing between each coil support is such that one coil support is brought into coil receiving position at the rear or loading end of the conveyor each time another coil support is moved tov a coil removing position at the front end of the conveyor. Preferably, the upper runs of the chains are supported on longitudinally extending members l0 to prevent deection oi the chains and the coils carried theref by. The conveyor preferably is of such length that a plurality of coils can be positioned or stored thereon and a loading operation effected at the taken on the line IV--IV of the unloading end of the conveyor.

dicated by l dotted lines loading end of the conveyor during a coll unwinding operation at the opposite end thereof.

The conveyor is suitably driven by means of a motor IIY operating through a speed reducing unit I2 and a chain I3 which passes around the sprocket l. Since coils are deposited on the conveyor and removed therefrom one by one, it is preferred to use a manually actuated means such as a push button, not shown, for initiating operation of the motor I l, and a motor control circuit preferably is provided whereby the motor automatically comes to rest after advancing the conveyor a distance equal to the spacing between the coil supports thereon in order to bring successive coils automatically to coil removing position at To this end, alimit switch I4 is provided and arranged? to be actuated by fingers or blocks I5 secured to one end of depending brace members of the transverse bars 8, the spacing of the fingers corresponding to the spacing of the coil supports. Thus, each time the limit switch I4 is actuated, the motor circuit (not shown) is interrupted and the conveyor is stopped with a coil in unloading position, a suitable brake I6 being associated with the driving motor and operated when limit switch I4 is actuated, vso as to prevent overtravel past coil unloading position.

The conveyor is adapted to carry coils of various diameters, and coils of two different sizes are '1nin Fig. l at the loading end of the conveyor. Preferably, after a coil has been placed on theV coil support at the loading end of the conveyor, the end of the coiled strip metal is pulled out and straightened to form a tail on the coil to facilitate subsequent entry of the strip into the automatic strip shearing mechanism. For this purpose, a break roll I'I mounted on a suitable stand or support' I8 is provided at the loading end of the conveyor. The end of the coil is pulled out manually and bent overV the roll Il and a sufcient length of the strip pulledacross the roll to form a substantially straight tail I9 of the desired length. Thereafter, the coil is rotated on its cradlingrollers 9 so that its tail I9 projects forwardly from the coil in the direction of advancement.

The conveyor is disposed in longitudinal alignment with the shear and delivers successive coils to a cooperating coil receiving mechanism or unwinding device positioned in front of the shear. The unwinding device is arranged to remove each coil from the conveyor by lifting the coil and rotatably to support the same in unwinding position above the plane of the cradling rollers on the conveyor for uncoiling.

Referring briefly to the shear, it may be of any well known form and construction for automatically cutting the strip fed thereto into predetermined lengths. Only a portion of the forward end of the shear is illustrated and it includes side frames between which are disposed sets of suitably driven pinch rolls 2| and strip flattening and straightening rolls 22. `A bracket 23 is carried by the side frames 20 and it supports a strip entry guide 24, driven pinch rolls 25, and side guide rollers 26.

The coil unwinding device includes an elongated frame member which may suitably take the form of a beam having a vertical plate 21 and a top plate or shelf 28. The frame member extends transversely of the shear and the coil conveyor and is here shown as being secured to the shear side frames 20 by attaching bolts 29 (Fig. 2). In some eases, however, it may be desirable to supthat are supported on from expanding and freely unwinding Each of the arms 32 is provided at its xed end with an elongated hub or sleeve 38 which affords extended bearing area with the shaft 30 so that the arms may be readily slid along the shaft. A

ment of the arms in order to introduce the heads of a coil in unloading position on the conveyor. This operating means com-- prises a power cylinder 46 that is mounted on the rear face of the vertical plate 21. 'The cylinder contains a piston 41 connected by means of a connecting rod 48 to a depending web 49 integrally formed with one of the collars 39. Fluid be controlled by any suitable valve means (not shown).

The length of the shaft 30 between the bearings 3| is such that the gaging heads 33 carried thereby may be spread apart a distance suflicient to accommodate the maximum length of coil delivered by the conveyor. For coils of lesser length, the spacing or `to the plate .coils of greater length,

vits supporting bearing 3|,

. free end is the transverse frame effect loweringof the arms 32 spread between the heads 33 is pre-adjusted to a distance sufficient to permit entry movement of the coils therebetween. The adjusting means comprises a screw shaft 50 that is rotatably mounted on the vertical plate 21` in parallelism with the shaft 30. The screw shaft is embraced by the lower end of the web 49, the web being out of contact with the shaft so as to be movable axially thereof. Threaded on the shaft 50 at opposite sides of the web 49 are two .axially spaced stop members or nuts l and 5la which limit movement of the heads 33 away from and toward each other, respectively. 5|a is spaced from the outer stop 5l a distance slightly in excess of that necessary to allow vthe heads 33 to be moved from their spread position into engagement with the ends of a coil therebetween. This spacing is maintained for all 4adjusted positions of the stops. When the coilis completely unwound the stop 5Ia serves to prevent the heads from traveling to the end of the stroke of piston 41 in cylinder 46, and when pressure in the cylinder is reversed, the heads have less travel to their open or spread position, and thus are quickly returned to receive the next coil,

The inner stop to support arms 32 in lower position at a predetermined elevation above' the conveyor and to stop the arms As `here illustrated, such means takes the form of a screw threaded rod 62 having an eye formed in its lower end, which eye is disposed between the bifurcated end of the clevis 56. The rod 62, the clevis 55, and the free end of the arm 55 are pivotally held in assembled relationship by means of a pivot pin 53. The rod 62 slidably extends through a block 64 and carries above and below said block adjusting nuts 65 and cooperating locking nuts 66. The block 64 is pivotally supported between bosses 61 carried by the upper ends of the ver- .tical brackets 60.

The upper set of nuts 65-56 engages the upper side of the block 54 and determines the height above the plane of the conveyor at which the heads 33 are normally supported by the arms 32 in their lower position. By adjustment of the upper set of nuts, the lower position of the arms A handwheel 52 is provided for operating the shaft whereby-the stops are adjusted along the -shaft without disturbing their spaced relationship. A guideway paralleling the shaft and suitably formed by two spaced bars 53 secured 21 is provided for the reception of a lug 54 on each nut whereby rotation of the nuts operating upon a series of `coils of short length, the arms 32 and their heads 33 need not be moved apart to their fullest extent but just sufficiently far to allow the coil to enter between them. For the stop nuts will,` of course, be adjusted to a new position on the screw shaft 50.

In order to impart raising movement to the arms -32 after they have been moved toward each other to force the heads 33 into the open ends of a coil in unloading position, means are provided to impart rocking movement to the shalt 30. At one end, the shaft 30 is extended beyond and fixed against rotation on such shaft extension is a crank arm 55, Thel arm preferably parallels the arms 32. .Its bifurcated, as best seen in Figs. 2 and 6, and has .pivotal connection with a clevis 56 that is secured to thelupper end of a piston rod 51, the lower end of which is secured to a piston working in a lifting cylinder 58. The 5S is provided with trunnions 59 rotatably supported in the lower ends of upstanding brackets 60, the side of the arm supports 6l` carried by the corresponding end o or beam. lower end of the cylinder- 58, its piston is moved upwardly, thereby moving the arm in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 5. YThe shaft 39 is thus turned and swings the arms 32 upwardly whereby the coil engaged by the heads 33 is lifted clear of the plane of the cradling rollers 9. Preferably, to

and 55, fluid presthe lower end of 55 and being secured to suitable fluid pressure to the sure is merely exhausted from the cylinder 58, the weight of t .e arms themselves forcing inder. .t

Means are provided to limit both upward and downward movement of the arms the piston downwardly in the cyl- 32-55, so as brackets being disposed on either' that when the arms position below By admittingA -arms 32 and the I32 is shiftable in vertical directions so that thereby the axis of the opposing heads 33 can be accurately aligned withthe axis of the coil therebetween in unloading position on the conveyor. It will be seen that by adjusting the upper set of nuts, the lower coil receiving position heads 33may be accommodated to coils of various diameters.

The lower. set of adjustingnuts --56 serves to limit upward movement of the arms 55--32 by .engaging the underside ofblock 64. For coils of large diameter, the extent'of upward movement of the arms 32 will, of course, be much less than with coils of smaller diameter. Consequently, the lower set of members 55-66 will be adjusted so are raised, the coil carried be lifted to the required unby the heads 33 will winding position with respect to the line of delivery of the strip into the entry guides 24.

In the drawings,y the heads 33 are shown in a diameter coils. Before operating on the heads are brought into dence with the center of the coils by adjustment of the upper set of nuts Gli- 65. In addition, the lower set of nuts 55-65 are adjusted along the rod 52 to the required position for limiting lifting movement of the arms 55--32. For these coils, the extent of lifting movement will be preferably just sufficient to raise tion of the coil above the level of the cradling rollers 9. After these adjustments have been made they need not be disturbed so long as approximately the same size of coils are being run through the apparatus.

In describing the operation of the mechanism here disclosed, it may be assumed that coil A is disposed in unwinding position and is being unwound, and that a succeeding coil B is supported these coils,

on the conveyor in an intermediate position for v dled manually,

delivery to unloading position when unwinding ing operatlon, a coil C will be loaded onto the conveyor at the rear end thereof. f For small coils of such weight that they can be practically hanloaded operations can oe effected manually. For the larger `and heavier/coils, suitable ccil grabs. of course, will be used to position a coil on its side on the cradling rollers 9 at the loading position. The outermost wrap of the/coil c will be bent back into engagement witntne break roll l1 and pulled thereacross to form a substantially straight and fiat tail of the'desired in a given upper position for -un\ I winding of the lifted coil.

of the the central opening of the largev horizontal coincithe lowermost pOrthe coil unwindthe required length length. By the provision of the pinch rolls 25, of tail is materially reduced. The tailed coil will then be rotated to bring the tail into a substantially horizontal, forwardly projecting, position.

Upon completion of the unwinding operation, Huid pressure is exhausted from the lifting cylinder 58 to allow the arms 32 to drop into their lower position, and uid pressure is admitted to the opposite end of cylinder 46, to move the arms into their spread position. In addition, the start switch for the driving motor I I will be actuated momentarily, whereupon the conveyor is driven to advance the coils carried thereby. By operation of the limit switch I 4 by the operating dog I5 associated with the succeeding coil support, the conveyor .is brought to a stop in the manner heretofore described with the leading coil B in' unloading position. In this position, the axis of the coil will be in substantial alignment with the axis of the opposed coil engaging heads 33.

During the later stage of advancement of the leading coil into said unloading position, its forwardly projecting tail I9 will be introduced by the operator, if necessary, into the entry guide 24 and engaged by the pinch rolls 25. Since the coil is rotatably supported upon the cradling rollers 9, it is free to rotate under the pinch roll pull on the strip so that when the coil is stopped in unloading position, actual unwinding of the coil can take place during movement of the heads 33 into the opposite ends of the coil and subsequent lifting of the engaged coil.

Movement of the heads 33 is effected by admitting fluid pressure to the rod or front end of the cylinder 46, whereupon the arms 32 are drawn simultaneously toward each between, thus forcing the heads 33 into the ends of the coil. Due to the conical shape of the heads 33, entry of the heads into the central open ing of the coil will be assured axes of the heads and the coil may be slightly out of alignment.

The coil is then lifted to unwinding position by admitting uid pressure to the lower end of the cylinder 58 which moves the crank arm 55 upwardly to rock the shaft 30 and thus impart lifting movement to the arms 32. Upward movement of the respective arms and the coil is limspread apart and position.

It will be appreciated each even though the engaged by tion.

2. In a device for coiled strip for unwinding, in combination, a

arm for limiting swinging movement thereof inboth directions.

3. In a device for elevating and supporting coiled strip for unwinding, the combination of a horizontal shaft, a pair of rocker arms slidably mounted on said shaft and fixed against rotation thereon, coaxial, opposed coil engaging heads adjacent the free ends of said arms slidably mounted on against rotation thereon, a crank arm xedly elevating and supportingA said arms along said disposed therebetween, a member engaging said crank and limiting movement thereof in one direction, to hold said lifting arms in a predetermined lower position, and a power cylinder having a piston co ected to said crank arm for moving the same in the other direction whereby to rotate said shaft and raise said lifting arms and the coil engaged by said heads to coil unwinding position.

5. In a device for elevating and supporting coiled strip during unwinding thereof, the combination of a horizontal shaft, a pair of lifting arms slidably mounted on said shaft and fixed against rotation thereon, a crank arm fixedly mounted on one end of said shaft and disposed substantially in parallelism with said lifting arms, coil engaging heads rotatably carried adjacent the free ends of said lifting arms in opposed, aligned relation, means for moving said lifting arms toward each other to enter said heads into the ends of a coil disposed therebetween, a Vertical cylinder containing a piston connected to said crank arm for moving the same upwardly to rotate said shaft thereby to raise said lifting arms and the coil engaged by said heads to an elevated coil unwinding position, a vertical rod movable with said crank arm, a fixed member through which said rod extends, and stop members adjustably carried on said rod at opposite sides of said fixed member for limiting upward and downward movement of said crank arm and said lifting arms.

6. In a device for elevating and supporting coiled strip for unwinding, in combination, a horizontal shaft, a pair of rocker arms slidably mounted on said shaft and fixed against rotation thereon, coaxial, engaging heads rotatably carried adjacent the free ends-of said rocker arms for entering a coil disposed therebetween, fluid pressure actuated means for moving shaft toward and away from being movable from a each other, said arms position of maximum spread to a position of minimum spread therebetween, means for limiting movement of said heads toward each other after the coil engaged thereby is means for rotating said shaft to move said arms and the coil engaged by said heads upwardly to an elevated coil unwinding position.

'7. In a device for elevating and supporting coiled stripfor unwinding, in combination, a horizontal shaft, a pair of rocker arms slidably mounted on said shaft and fixed against rotation thereon, coaxial, opposed coil engaging heads rotatably carried adjacent the free ends of said rocker arms for entering a coil disposed therebetween, fluid pressure actuated means for moving said arms along said shaft toward and away from n each other, said arms being movable from a position of maximum spread 4to a position of minimum i axial and vertical movements of said spread therebetween,

tioned members cooperating with said arm moving means, one member of said able to limit movement of said arms away from each other and the other member of said pair being operable to limit movement of said heads toward each other after the coil engaged thereby is completely unwound, and means for rotating said shaft to move said arms and the co`l engaged by said heads upwardly to an elevated coil unwinding position.

8. In a machine of the type described, the combination of rotatable coil supporting devices movable axially toward and away from each other to supportingly engage a coil therebetween, and movable vertically in unison to lift the engaged coil, fluid pressure act to move said devices axially, means to move said devices vertically, and adjustable stop members cooperating with each of said moving means to limit the extent of devices re- 40 spectively.

EDWARD L. LYLE.

a pair of adjustably posicompletely unwound, and i pair being oper- 

